Here I go again, NOT on my own!

Here's the thing...I forgot about this blog. Life happens, I'm pretty sure no one is heated at me for it, so I will say what I came here to say:
I have goals. They are obtainable, but I tend to sabotage myself whenever I see progress and now that I'm aware of it, I'm ready to break that habit.
I started working out with a Personal Trainer (who is a close, personal friend who knows my fitness goals and is extremely knowledgeable as well as motivating) last night & plan on doing so once a week. I have created a weekly workout plan including doing the Eliptical alone, as well as taking Cycling, Zumba, & Body Pump classes. My PT also sent me a suggestion on how to try to tweak my diet a little bit this week.
I have people in my life who are holding me accountable, and yes, I KNOW I'M NOT FAT!! I just know I can and want to be better. I want to practice what I preach for the fitness aspect of my life. No, I'm not teaching as much as I used to,  but that gives me the time I need to focus on myself while not neglecting my relationship, or my social life :)
I will blog again when I want to...!

Life update

Hello readers...so sorry I've been M.I.A. for nearly 7 months! I forgot all about my neglected blog and am very, very sorry :-(

What's been going on since I last posted in March??

SO MUCH!

Apollo's feet are doing well, no broken toenails or infections to report :-) (yay!) He wants to be on top of Chase & I 24/7. If we are sitting together, he wants to lie across me & rest his head on Chase. I don't mind it, but Chase can only take it for so long.

Chase still works in property management and is dreading the upcoming 9 months of rain Seattle experiences from October thru about May. The good news is this time next month we're going to be visiting CALIFORNIA for a few days!!! (Los Angeles & San Diego to be exact.) Chase's best friend lives in LA and his little brother is going to be graduating from the Marines Basic Training!! I'm so happy we're able to go down for it :-) Flying to California from Seattle is so much cheaper than flying to visit our families in Iowa, which we did in August!

We spent a few days back home visiting both mine & Chase's families. It was so great seeing everyone & I got the chance to teach a class at my little sisters dance studio!! It was so great to be able to see how much she's grown into a "mini-me" :)

I am still teaching dance & group fitness as well as some massage on the side. I recently put in the 2 weeks notice for the massage clinic I work at in West Seattle. 14 miles one way is a lot to commute for what I get paid there, so I had to diligently look for another position. I interviewed at several places but ended up choosing a spa in Kenmore that's less than HALF the distance from my house than the place I'm currently employed. I start next week, and am very excited for the change.

We were supposed to get a "family photo" taken this coming Thursday for our Holiday card, but Chase ended up having to work since he's going out of town this weekend for a Bachelor party! Hopefully we can reschedule soon because I don't have many pix of all of us together :-/

Well, I suppose that's my update for now!! I will -hopefully- be back next week to blog about my weekend away in Eastern WA with the girls for MY friend's bachelorette party :-)

New job=Less time but more $$

A few months ago, I came to the realization that I needed to be making more money. I knew I didn't want to take on anymore group fitness or dance classes, so I decided to go back into Massage Therapy :) I haven't had the best luck the past few months finding somewhere that would work with scheduling me around my already   lets call it INTERESTING schedule. I didn't want to be giving up my classes to take on a part time job, and there's no way I want to do massage full-time, having to give up teaching for the most part. Both jobs are very physically demanding, but in different ways. There's almost no talking during a massage, where as I talk 95% of the time I'm teaching a dance/fitness class. 

Fun fact: When I first started teaching 16 dance classes/week at Aspire Academy, I lost my voice because I wasn't used to using it so much!

Needless to say, I was getting frustrated with all the dead-end interviews, or taking on a job that was on-call & NEVER getting booked. I had set up a website called "Find Touch" (I know, kind of a creepy name, but it's legit) which is a site where employers can search for therapists to ask them to apply for job openings, or you (yourself) can apply with your resume. I had used it to apply before, but had found nothing. Then one day, I received an email AND a phone call from them asking if I was interested in applying for their open position. I found out they're a member-based clinic (like Massage Envy) but pay better, and have some benefits offered for even PART-TIME employees :) I liked the way the job was sounding on the phone, so we scheduled an interview. After lots of talking and a practical on one of the owners, I was offered the position on the spot. I let them know the days/times I wanted to work, and that's currently when I'm scheduled.

I started last Wednesday, and in the 3 days (19 hrs) I've been there I've already had 10 massages. The owner actually APOLOGIZED for my only having 2 scheduled on my first day. Now, this is amazing for someone who used to work at high-end salon/spas where 10 massages was considered good if you were scheduled 5 or more days out of the week!! Working at my very last spa, I was scheduled 4 days per week, and was lucky if I saw 8 clients. I used to make 10 my GOAL!! 

I'm very happy that massage therapy is the primary focus of this establishment and that everyone (so far) is so nice to one another. Everything I need is provided, AND I'M MAKING MORE MONEY!! Always a plus :) The only thing about adding another job to my schedule, is I don't have as much time with Apollo as I used to...last week being the first time I've been away from him for over 10 hours some days! Luckily, Chase works .6 miles from where we live & comes home on his lunch break to let him out. I've dedicated Sunday's & Tuesday's to spending as much time with Apollo as I can, which he loves :) I think he'll get used to it...he seems to be doing fine.

I'm no good at following guidelines...

Alright. I'm gonna admit it: I SUCK AT FOLLOWING GUIDELINES!!

I tried to stick with a 10 week workout plan, & I succeeded for a few days, but then life got in the way. I don't think I was meant to follow guidelines. I'm not that strict of a person! It's hard when you have a boyfriend that is naturally skinny. Chase can stop drinking beer, replace it with whiskey & lose 10 lbs. Me? I barely drink at all, so I have nothing to stop or replace whenever we go out! I ask for water with some lemon...DD all night baby!

My weakness? All things sugar-related. I've said many times that I would rather eat than drink my calories. Chase & I are both noticing a change in our bodies as we get older. He doesn't like working out (which is fine with me) & I don't like depriving myself (not so fine). We both like to eat like we're 5 years old...but we both enjoy healthy salads, and healthy breakfast foods.

In a brief discussion this morning, we decided to plan what we're going to eat for lunch and dinner while driving to work in the mornings. (He's able to come home for lunch everyday.) We bought some whole grain wraps at Trader Joe's this weekend and have discussed eating those for lunch the next few days with some grilled chicken & veggies. Dinners will consist of homemade turkey bacon & spinach quiche's as well as Chase's fantastic homemade chili.

I will say this so it's public, but there's no 100% guarantee. I'm trying for the ever so slight lifestyle change so it's good for both of us & not something I'm trying to do alone while he sits in the corner sulking that I'm not able to eat what he's eating. I've done the whole, "don't ask me what's for dinner because I'm doing a cleanse this week" and it's taken its toll. I need to stop my "quick fix" thinking, and focus on slight lifestyle changes...that being said, I'm on my 2nd cup of detox tea! I can't get enough! It tastes surprisingly good!

Detox Tea:
8 oz hot water
1/2 lemon squeezed
2-3 shakes cinnamon & cayenne pepper
1 cap full of apple cider vinegar

This tea is said to help suppress hunger and regulate blood sugar levels. Thanks, Pinterest ;)

10 Week Workout Plan (Pinterest)

Today, my post is about Pinterest. This website/application gives us the capability to "pin" things we want to remember on different online boards. My favorite thing to find on Pinterest is workout plans and healthy meal planning. For some reason today, I decided to put into action something that I pinned yesterday. It's a 10 Week Workout Plan that gives you daily exercises and weekly cardio assignments.

January 7th, 2013 marks my first day/week of trying out this program. Here are some photos I took after my first workout today. Hopefully I'll look like the model above soon ;) (but with bigger boobs!)

A new kind of resolution: 2013 style

It wouldn't be a New Year without a Resolution or FIVE! 2012 was a year of welcomed changes in the CB household. Chase got a new job, I got some new dance/teaching gigs, and Apollo got a lot of new stuff that made both Chase & I's lives easier/more fun! I've decided that my resolution this year will not be health-based like everyone else's seem to be. (Though I do work in the health/fitness industry.)

My resolution(s) for 2013 are personal & professionally based:
*Teach/take more classes & get certified to teach a different type of class other than dance-fitness based
*Recruit more people outside of the gym/studio to take my classes
*Walk Apollo 5 days per week, & play with him at home (more often than telling him to go lie down on the couch!)
*Go on a real DATE with Chase (outside of our apartment) at least once a week.
*Find a hobby other than sitting at home &/or blogging!!

Not to get down on everyone who makes health/weight loss resolutions, but 9 times out of ten- they don't stick!! If I were to make a health based resolution this year, it would be to try different types of exercise classes I wouldn't normally go to. Such as, CYCLING or a YOGA class. I've never in my life taken a Cycling class, but I LOVE riding the stationary bikes at the gym!

I'm not making it a part of my resolution, but I will say a BIG goal for 2013 is to become a Certified Personal Trainer :-D The only thing that's been holding me back is saving enough money to be able to afford both the materials and the test fees. I feel Personal Training is something that I would be good at with all my other licenses and background training with Massage Therapy, Dancing, & Group Fitness.

not to get down on the holidays, BUT...

Thanks to all of the cookies, candies, and my weakness for sugar, I've gained about 4-5lbs in the last month or so. It's better than 9-10lbs, but worse than gaining none at all. I expected to gain holiday weight this year, but I've been keeping up with my cardio outside of my teaching so I figured I would only gain a couple of extra pounds.
The biggest thing is to not get down on myself too badly. I don't have a deadline for myself for my goal weight/size and I'm healthier than most people, so gaining a few extra holiday pounds isn't a huge deal unless an extra few turns into an extra 10 or 15 :-/

Blog about my 2013 resolutions/goals soon to come :-D

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Hair Bow

I've tried this hairstyle before, but didn't have as good success as I did this time! I felt like "Cindy Lou Who" the entire time my hair was up! Let me know if a video tutorial is necessary, or if u just want me to do another un-scripted Vlog!

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new hairstyle tutorial

Here is the tutorial some of you asked for !! Enjoy!

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first video...

I decided to make my first video blog...its unscripted (obviously) so feel free to laugh at my babbling!

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Goal: Be more consistent

I've been really hit & miss with this blog!! I was really on when I was in the process of auditioning for the Sea Gals, but have since fallen off with my "blog consistency". I know a lot of people really enjoyed keeping up with me during that time, because I had a realistic goal I was moving towards.

I don't have a new defined goal right now, but I'm working towards having one :)

I won't be auditioning for the Sea Gals again this year. The only reason I would want to audition again is to prove the coach wrong & say, "HA! I MADE IT!!" When really, I don't care about the Seahawks as a football team...sorry :-/ I just want to be a part of a professional dance team.
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Chase & I just got back from visiting our family/friends in the mid west :-D We flew into the Des Moines International Airport on Friday Dec. 7th and flew back to Seattle Thursday Dec. 13th. We got to see most of our families at the Open House's both of our mom's hosted for us, and some friends too!! We had people visit all the way from Omaha-NE, Minneapolis-MN, & even Chicago-IL just to see us! To those people, I am so thankful you were able to come for even a short amount of time :) It made our trip that much more enjoyable and made me so happy to see Chase reunited with his best guy friends!

True, we didn't advertise it on Facebook, or tell many people that we were coming back and here's why: We didn't want to be the target of flakey people (but we were anyways.) There were people we invited to our Open House's who said through Facebook they would be in attendance, & didn't show. There were people who claimed they wanted to hang out while we were in town that never called. That's just the nature of the game. People want to see you, but on their own terms. Now, I'm not speaking for all people who didn't show or call. I understand life gets in the way. Kids throw up. Work says "NO". People fall asleep on accident. Schedules don't sync. I however, have a problem with people who claim up one wall & down the other that they will make time to see you, & then make no actual effort, or tell you why for that matter.

Having to borrow a vehicle, & only having a certain amount of available time to see people makes it harder on our part. I hate to sound so flat, but Chase & I decided if people couldn't meet us where we were, we just wouldn't make time to see them.

I'm going to now step-down from my soap box with this: Next time I'm in town (with Chase, or without) I will not get my hopes up in the chances of possibly seeing someone. At all.
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In being more consistent with this blog, I will say this: Every Sunday, I will re-count the events of my week. Whether it be something that happened with Apollo, Chase, or myself. A beauty product review, a sale I found, a workout I like, a new recipe I've tried, or a new goal I've defined for myself. Every Sunday, I will write a blog! Maybe I'll do a few V-logs too :)

photo evidence

The photo on the left is of me prior to my training/cardio routine came into play. The photo on the right is after 4 1/2 weeks. No real weight loss, but you can see a difference.

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Champagne Taste on a Beer Budget

Alright, I'm a girl- and most girls love clothes & shopping. The only time I hate shopping is when I have ZERO DOLLARS to spend! I can't window shop. It only makes me more depressed about not having $$. When I do have extra money, I try to make it last as long as possible when I do spend it shopping. I had the chance to buy a pair of boots at Cathy Jean *On Sale* from $129.99 to $39.00. The normal person would be impulsive & take advantage of the sale...I tried them on & they didn't look that great. I walked around with the boots in mind, but still looking for a better look/deal. In the Northgate Mall there is a store called Papaya with REALLY cute clothes at SUPER affordable prices for girls like me with Champagne Taste yet on a Beer Budget. I walked around looking for boots & happened across two pairs of really great boots for the price of the 1 pair of Cathy Jean boots! I was ecstatic to find my size (8.5) & even more excited to see how they looked on me!! I bought the two pairs of boots & then the next day went to a few consignment stores & found two pairs of tennis shoes for a more than reasonable price. I've been wanting some new shoes to wear for teaching my dance/fitness classes, and these two pairs were perfect for my beer budget :-) Some people don't like shopping at second hand stores, but I really love it because having experienced trying to sell my clothing in these stores, I know they don't take just ANYTHING. They make sure what they buy is in season, & in near PERFECT condition. I've taken entire bags of clothes into these stores to sell & have only gotten them to buy 2 or 3 things out of the entire bag. Needless to say, I feel like I've won the lottery when I find great deals, not just *sales*.

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In need of some help

Okay, here's the deal: I've never been a skinny girl. I've never been obese, but I have been overweight in the past. I've not always been interested in fitness, but I have always been interested in FOOD :-) I CAN help it, but sometimes I honestly don't want to. I'm a typical female- put food in front of me, & I'm gonna eat it!

Get ready, a woman is about to be honest about how much she WEIGHS!!

I know that I fluctuate normally between 150-155 lbs. The smallest I've been (for a SHORT amount of time) is 147 lbs when I auditioned for Sea Gals in the last 2 years. It's a normal weight for my height of 5 ft 8 & 1/2 inches, but I don't currently feel like I LOOK the part a "fitness instructor". I don't look at myself and think that other women could view me as a fit female role model.

SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO...

I've enlisted the help of a PERSONAL TRAINER!! :-)

Her name is Lainee, and she takes my Hip Hop fitness class at C-Fit. We had our first session today and have established that I A) Do not drink enough water (I was cramping a lot during my workout) & B) Have been telling myself for too long that because I teach fitness, that must mean that I (myself) don't need to workout otherwise.

WRONG!!

Yes, I teach upwards of 10-12 fitness classes per week, but this does NOT mean that I have 10-12 full workouts per week.

I will be working with Lainee once per week doing different workouts every time. She's very excited to help me with my journey towards feeling like a fit female role model, and I have to say, I'm excited to see what we can accomplish together!!

Lets be honest

Alright, so I started the "3 Day Military Diet" on Sunday with hopes of kick-starting my holiday fitness goals. I liked the idea of it only being only 3 days long, & it didn't seem that difficult to follow. 

WRONG!

As stated in my last blog, I got massive headaches the first day, & the second day was even worse!! Not only did I have headaches, but my energy levels were incredibly low. I completed Days 1 & 2 to the letter, but after only having lost 1.2 lbs, I decided that it wasn't in my best interest to continue the diet. Other people who tried the diet said they lost around 4 or 5 lbs their first day. Maybe I didn't lose that much weight because my body fat percentage isn't as high as those who tried the diet before me. Either way, the diet didn't work for me. It's not to say it won't work for someone else in the future, or has worked for someone in the past, but being completely honest, it just wasn't for me. 

In other news, I got a JOB OFFER to work as a Massage Therapist at the Urban Yoga Spa in downtown Seattle! It's a little over 7 miles from where we live in Northgate. I walked into my interview yesterday and was taken aback at how gorgeous the space was! Downstairs was devoted to reception, locker rooms, and 2 large Yoga studios, while the upstairs was where they kept their spa. The massage room was gorgeous, & the table was hydraulic! I had used hydraulic massage tables when I worked at The Red Door Spa, & I've got to tell you, they're so much more convenient than tables you have to manually adjust! I spoke candidly during my interview & found out the massage lead (who was conducting the interview) is from the midwest as well and is a group fitness instructor like me :) I gave him my availability and after I performed a practical, he told me I was the last of his interviews and he wanted to offer ME the position!! I was a little apprehensive about working downtown because parking is a NIGHTMARE and I would end up spending more than a decent amount of $$ on parking than I wanted to, but he said, "Oh, that's no problem. We have EMPLOYEE PARKING." !!!! WHAT?? Who has parking for their employees DOWNTOWN?! URBAN YOGA SPA! That's who!! 

I have another interview later this afternoon at a spa that is only 2 miles from our apartment, but I have a feeling since it's owned by Aveda, I won't have the "yes" feeling that I had yesterday. Something about working for a corporation doesn't sit well with me. Having have experience with both, I prefer working for a personally owned spa rather than a corporately owned spa. The woman who owns Urban Yoga Spa worked at Nordstrom's for 30 years and decided to open her own yoga studio/spa after exhausting herself in the corporate world. We'll see how I feel after this next interview though. I already got an email from Urban Yoga Spa practically begging me to officially say "yes, I will work here" & set up a time to come in & fill out new hire paperwork. Bonus: If I work there, I get free yoga classes :)

Oh, & my personal hairstylist (& friend!) Bethany came over last night to cut/color my hair, so now I have full bangs :-) I've had side-swept bangs for YEARS and decided to take the plunge. I LOVE them, but I can tell they're going to be hard to get used to!!

I might be crazy after all...

I seriously think I may have developed an issue with anxiety. I first noticed when Chase & I went to COMICON earlier this year. The aisles were packed like sardine cans. Not just people, but strollers too. They would stop to look at something or talk to someone holding the rest of us up to form a claustrophobic pile-up. My heart was racing & it felt like I was going to implode. We had to leave the crowd several times so I could catch my breath & calm down.

I'm a mess.

Also, a few weeks ago, Chase & I were merely DISCUSSING the possibility of a trip home to IA & my heart started racing, my breathing was off, & I sweat right through my shirt all because I started thinking about how many people we have to see in a short amount of time when we go back.

Again, I'm a mess.

In other news, thanks to Pinterest, I've started the 3 day "Military Diet". It really has NOTHING to do with the military, I just think that's the name b/c its strict. Like "Bootcamp" classes being NOTHING like actual military bootcamps, just difficult (as pointed out to me by my sister who is IN the military). I've wanted to try this diet before, & know of a few people who want my feedback after I try it, so here's my Day 1:

I ate breakfast (1/2 grapefruit, 1 pc toast, 2tbsp peanut butter) -while I skyped with my older sister who is stationed in Germany- around 10:30am. Then, lunch (1 can tuna, 1pc toast & coffee) after I taught at 1:30pm.
BIG headache. Right around 2 or 3pm as I was in the middle of my Urban Striptease Instructor training.
I practically ignored Chase & his cuteness altogether when I got home so I could finally eat dinner at 7pm (4 oz meat, 1 cup green beans, 1sm Apple, 1/2 a banana & 1 cup vanilla ice cream). By the time I finished, I was in HEAVEN.

I don't know what the scale will say tomorrow, but my last meal definitely made up for the entire day. I'm not looking for criticism, or negativity of any kind. So please, keep your thoughts about my diet choices to yourself unless you have a legitimate question.

Thanks :-)

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I need a new computer

This-is-sad. I would be able to do so much more if I didn't spend an hour waiting for my computer to send a simple email. Yes, my computer is old. It's a DELL 600m from 2005. It's served me well & hasn't quite crapped out yet, so I'm gonna use it until it's DEAD, but holy moley...this is getting ANNOYING!!

What's also annoying, is the fact that I bought a birthday card from my little brother's birthday (which is next week) on Sunday-wrote & put the $$ he asked for (that he's saving for a trip with his 8th grade class to Washington DC) in it, addressed it, put a stamp on it, & put it in my day planner so I would remember to send it. When I looked in my planner yesterday morning- it was GONE. I don't remember sending it, nor do I remember a time where my bag wasn't with me when someone could've gone through my purse & taken it! I called my family to let them know what happened, & if I somehow sent it without knowing, to have them keep an eye out for it this week. If it doesn't get to him by the end of the week, I'll have to buy another card & put in that card MORE MONEY :-( I turned my house upside down & my car inside out looking for this card. I only hope that if someone DID take it, that they needed the cash that was on there more than he needs it for his trip. UGH!!! It still makes me sooo frustrated.

On another note, today I got Chase & I tickets to the Uproar Festival which is on Sept. 22nd by donating 2 bags of non-perishable food items to the ROCK OUT HUNGER food drive. I spent $19.10 on canned food items...not a bad price for concert tickets!!

Chase & I try to live as frugally as possible...we shop at a great store that I'm OBSESSED with called Grocery Outlet. It's a store that sells overstocked items & closeouts of name brand & private label groceries. They offer fresh & ground meat, chicken, produce, frozen items, boxed items, milk, eggs, bread, etc. I made us a steak dinner with baby red potatoes & asparagus for around $8 per serving!! Which is around the same as going through the drive through, & MUCH LESS than going out to an actual restaurant :)

The CB's update :-)

If you've been keeping up with me on Facebook, you know that CHASE GOT A NEW JOB!! He was really unhappy at his job with PNTA & it was taking a toll on our everyday lives. We weren't doing bad relationship-wise, there was just a gloom over our household :-( Chase didn't expect to hate his job when he moved to Seattle, & he didn't expect finding another one to be so difficult. It made me SO sad to see him come home everyday & not be excited about anything. 

A few MONTHS ago, I was approached by one of my Barre Fitness students that manages a luxury apartment complex about a half mile from our house. She was looking for someone interested in sales, marketing, & leasing. AKA- a Leasing Consultant ;) I told her that Chase used to be a Baseball Sales Associate at Scheels in Iowa City & I thought would be GREAT when it comes to anything sales oriented (but then again, I'm biased!). She gave me her business card & told me to give it to him so he could email her his resume. An interview was set up within a few days, but wasn't a normal interview. Apparently it was just an "informative interview" which was so they both could get a feel for if he was right for a PROSPECTIVE position that wasn't open yet. We got pretty disheartened, but the manager kept in touch with him via email & called Chase out of the blue on Monday to tell him that one of her leasing agents' boyfriend got into a bad accident & she needed to leave the company to take care of him. Pretty sh*tty circumstances, but what great  opportunity for Chase!! I was jumping up & down on the bed when Chase told me- & Apollo got a little bit upset with me doing that, LOL, he doesn't like when anyone's feet leave the ground to jump or if they're being picked up by someone else, anyone doing headstands, summer-saults, skateboarders, or runners...he's quirky like that! I've seen AND experienced his "tackles" to get someone to stop running or to get you back down on the ground...

ANYWAYS...

Chase went in to get his letter of hire from the company in downtown Seattle & I made him a sign & put it up over our sliding glass door that said "CONGRATULATIONS!!!" He laughed at it, but he deserved it, I'm so proud of him :-) He's been training for the past few days & we found out that he doesn't have weekends off anymore (BOOOOOO!) so I'm going to be trying to find some more classes to teach on the weekends to keep myself a bit busier & try to get rid of the class I teach on his day(s) off. 

Granted, we don't get a discount on living at the apartment complex he works at (b/c it's LUXURY LIVING) but some other perks we've found out so far about his job are: 

*We get to go to the preview of "The Dark Knight Rises" next week!! The company he works for bought out the IMAX movie theater (which is right by where he works) for their resident's to go to the movie & reserved two rows for employees & their friend's :-D 

*Any furniture that residents leave behind can be taken by the leasing consultants...now, any other apartment complex I would be skeptical about, but this is a LUXURY complex so the stuff left behind is a lot nicer than what the average person would leave behind. One of Chase's co-workers said she once got a set of matching Lay-Z-Boys! Yesterday Chase brought home a white mirror that hangs over a door since I've been wanting one for a while :)

So far, the job is already more rewarding for him & our entire outlook on living here has changed for the better :-)

What's new with ME?!

I'm still teaching my Dance & Fitness classes, but July is pretty slow since I'm not teaching any kids classes this month. August will pick up since along with my regular teaching schedule I'll be teaching a Kids Hip Hop series as well as a Cheer Camp. I'm going to try to find another part-time job though because I find myself sitting around quite a bit when I'm not teaching or walking Apollo. 

On Monday, I applied at Living Social to be a a Part Time Experience Coordinator. I haven't heard anything back yet but lets all keep our fingers crossed because a job that let's you play for $$ is the best kind of job!! (Which is why I've stuck to teaching for so long!! I love it!!) 

That was a little long winded & took over a half hour to type. The sun has come out a little bit, so I'm gonna go walk Apollo :) Hope you enjoyed the CB's update !!

Unique Sweets: BROOKSTER

Hello everyone!!
Today on a whim, Chase turned our TV channel to a show called "Unique Sweets". It's a show about places around the United States that have unique ideas for sweet foods :) I got this particular sweet idea from a place called BAKED in Brooklyn, NY. It's called the BROOKSTER!! It's a scoop of brownie batter into a muffin tin & then cookie dough on top of the brownie batter. I chose to make my own low-fat brownie batter (see recipe & nutrition details below) and store-bought cookie dough.

LOW-FAT BROWNIE BATTER
7 tbsp flour
1/2 cup cocoa
1/4 tsp salt
2 egg whites
1 large egg
3/4 cup white sugar
8 tbsp applesauce
1 1/2 tsp vanilla

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees
Combine flour, cocoa, & salt (mix well)
Whisk together egg whites, egg, sugar, applesauce, & vanilla
Add egg mixture to flour mixture & mix until blended
Pour 1 tablespoon brownie batter into greased (I use olive oil PAM) individual muffin tins

Roll & flatten out cookie dough, place on top of brownie batter in muffin tins

Place in oven for 18 minutes

Makes 24 Brooksters

128 Calories (each)
4.5g Fat
2g Saturated Fat
7.5mg Cholesterol
108.5g Sodium
20.5g Carbohydrates
13g Sugar
2g Protein

Dance Fitness with ME!!

I know my last blog was about how I'm trying not to check Facebook as much anymore...but that only lasted so long because I decided to pursue a Facebook page to help advertise my Dance Fitness classes in Seattle. So far, a lot of people I invited to LIKE the page have LIKED it (thank you!!) Not all though...which is okay! There are plenty of people not on my friends list that have LIKED my page as well. Some who have taken my class, & some who haven't. I added a LOT of photos & am hoping to add videos soon of me explaining the choreography & performing it so people who want to "practice" before coming to class or after, can :-)

If you haven't already, go ahead & visit my Facebook page & click LIKE!! Yes...I've become one of THOSE people!!

http://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.249080155193768.40424.115126335255818&type=1&__user=507058095#!/profile.php?id=115126335255818&__user=507058095

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